Methods and apparatus for mounting devices

ABSTRACT

A device mounting apparatus includes a mounting base portion having a plurality of opposing pairs of rails. The mounting base portion is adapted for mounting on a support structure. The apparatus further includes a mounting tab affixed to a device for snap in mounting between a pair of rails, whereby the device is captively retained on the mounting base portion, and can be disengaged therefrom by snapping the mounting tabs out of the associated pairs of rails.

RELATED APPLICATION

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/132,852, filed Jun. 23, 2008, the content of which is incorporatedherein by reference to the extent that it does not conflict herewith.Also this Application is a Divisional of prior application Ser. No.12/924,980 filed Oct. 8, 2010 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,963,497, which is aDivisional Application of prior application Ser. No. 12/456,094 filedJun. 11, 2009 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,918,430, and is further related toApplication No. 13/065,555 filed herewith.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to apparatuses for mountingdevices and is more particularly related to demarcation enclosures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Present known demarcation enclosures require the use of screws and/orother types of individual fasteners for mounting and securing devicesassociated with communication technology in the enclosures. There is aneed in the art to eliminate the fasteners, and simplify and providerapid mounting of devices into demarcation enclosures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed generally to methods and apparatus formounting devices. The apparatus of the present invention, preferably ademarcation enclosure, is configured to provide a user with an option toconveniently mount the devices with a quick snap-in feature, therebyavoiding the need for tools and greatly reducing required mounting time.The apparatus of the present invention greatly enhances and streamlinesthe process of mounting and installing devices, while remaining costeffective and simple to fabricate. In addition, the apparatus of thepresent invention is designed to provide great flexibility inaccommodating various devices, such as communication devices, forexample, and facilitating convenient positioning and mounting of thedevices.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatusfor mounting devices, comprising:

a mounting base portion;

a mounting tab affixed to a device for mounting on said mounting baseportion; and

means operatively associated with the mounting base portion forcaptively providing snap-in retention, and snap-out removal of saidmounting tab of an associated device thereon.

In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided anapparatus for mounting devices, comprising:

a mounting base portion being adapted for mounting on a supportstructure; and

at least one pair of opposing first and second mounting rails disposedon the mounting base portion, the first and second mounting rails beingconfigured for operatively cooperating with one another to securelyretain the tab portions of a device therebetween.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided anapparatus for mounting devices, comprising:

a mounting base portion; and

at least one flush mounting slot disposed in said mounting base portion,said flush mounting slot being configured for receiving a threadedfastener to secure a device on said mounting base portion.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the apparatus of thepresent invention includes a mounting base portion, and a plurality ofelongated rails and slots disposed on the mounting base portion, whereinthe rails and slots are configured to receive and rigidly securemounting tabs of various devices between the rails and slots, whilepermitting easy removal of the mounted devices. In this manner, thepresent invention provides enhanced cable management within theassociated apparatus.

In another embodiment of the invention, gasket means are provided alonga sidewall of a demarcation enclosure for permitting a portion of acoaxial cable to be pushed through a vertical slit from the edge of thegasket, down through a slotway covered by the gasket, whereby the gaskethas X-shaped slits across the central portion for permitting entry ofthe cable portion into the hole from the upper portion of the gasket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention are described in greater detailbelow with reference to the drawings, in which like terms are identifiedby the same reference designation, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view looking toward the top of a demarcationenclosure apparatus in a closed state for one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view looking toward the bottom of thedemarcation enclosure apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view looking toward the interior bottom portionof the demarcation enclosure apparatus in an open state with acommunication device mounted therein via a screw fastener in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a partial front perspective view of an aperture gasketcomprising a plurality of grommet-forming webs for one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4B is a partial rear perspective view of the aperture gasket inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the aperture gasket with cables orconnection wires passed through two of the grommet-forming webs inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mounting deck for one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the demarcation enclosureapparatus with the mounting deck installed therein in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 8 is a simplified pictorial view of from a side of the mountingdeck of FIG. 6 with a communication device mounted thereon in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged elevational view of a mounting bracket or tab of acommunication device engaging with or disengaging from first and secondmounting rails on a simplified view of the mounting deck in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged elevational view of the mounting bracket shown inFIG. 9 captively retained between the first and second mounting rails inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged elevational view of a mounting bracket inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the communication device showinga top view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 11, in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of an interior bottom portion of ademarcation enclosure apparatus for another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 14 is a partial sectional and cutaway side perspective view of afloor of the demarcation enclosure apparatus of FIG. 13 with acommunication device mounted thereon in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed generally to methods and apparatus formounting devices. The apparatus of the present invention, preferably inthe form of a demarcation enclosure, is configured to provide a userwith an option to conveniently mount the devices with a quick snap-infeature, thereby avoiding the need for tools and greatly reducingrequired mounting time. The apparatus of the present invention greatlyenhances and streamlines the process of mounting and installing devices,while remaining cost effective and simple to fabricate. In addition, theapparatus of the present invention is designed to provide greatflexibility in accommodating various devices, such as communicationdevices, for example, and facilitating convenient positioning andmounting of the devices. Although the present invention is describedgenerally in context of demarcation enclosures, it will be understoodthat the present invention is not limited and can extend to any devicesor apparatuses or applications for mounting devices.

It should be noted that there are a variety of demarcation requirementsin terms of the combination of devices required to configure the serviceto the needs of the subscriber. Therefore, the mounting platform mustoffer a generalized pattern on which to mount various devices withdifferent shapes and numbers of ports. Typically, all known demarcationenclosures offer a grid of bosses to facilitate mounting screws. Thepresent invention, in one embodiment, extends the flexibilities of thegrid by providing successive parallel slots for mounting screws insteadof individual bosses to allow the mounting of devices at any point alongthe axis of the slots. In another embodiment of the invention, amounting deck with pairs or sets of opposing rails are another means forproviding this freedom of snap-in mounting of devices with mounting tabsat a desired position along the axis of the rails without the need forfasteners such as screws.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided anapparatus, such as a demarcation enclosure, including a mounting baseportion adapted for mounting on a support structure, and meansoperatively associated with the mounting base portion for captivelyretaining a portion of a device thereon. The retaining means areconfigured for snap engagement or disengagement with tab portions of thedevice.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the apparatus of thepresent invention includes a mounting base portion, and a plurality ofelongated rails and slots disposed on the mounting base portion, whereinthe rails and slots are configured to receive and rigidly securemounting tabs of various devices between the rails and slots, whilepermitting easy removal of the mounted devices. In this manner, thepresent invention provides enhanced cable management within theassociated apparatus.

It should be noted that the demarcation point of a utility service suchas cable television is not always characterized by an enclosure.Occasionally, the signal distribution devices are exposed, being mountedto a sheet of substrate such as plywood, for example. In this case, theback or mounting base portion of the present invention that is designedto snap into the enclosure can also be mounted by itself to a sheet ofplywood or wall to hold the devices, such as communication devices, in aconvenient and orderly manner without the need for individual fastenersto secure such devices.

As used herein, the term “communication device” refers to a broad classof devices, including but not limited to devices having at least oneinput port and/or at least one output port for use in telecommunicationdistribution networks such as, for example, coaxial-based cabletelevision distribution networks. Some examples of these communicationdevices include amplifiers, signal splitters, combiners, filters, taps,and the like. However, the present invention can be used for mountingdevices other than communication devices.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a demarcation enclosure apparatus identifiedby reference numeral 10 is shown for one embodiment of the presentinvention. Although the present invention is shown and described incontext of a demarcation enclosure, it is understood that the presentinvention is not limited to this application. The present invention canbe used for any application where it is desirable to securely mountdevices or objects on a mounting base or plate disposed within acontainer or enclosure in an efficient and convenient manner.

The demarcation enclosure apparatus 10 is generally configured forproviding a connection or demarcation point between a telecommunicationnetwork at large (e.g., telephone and coaxial-based systems) and adestination or premise wiring (e.g., subscriber's home). The demarcationenclosure apparatus 10 is designed to hold signal distribution devicesor communication devices at the demarcation point where thecommunication utility enters a building or premise, and providesprotection for the devices. The demarcation enclosure apparatus 10further provides a secure location for terminating cables such ascoaxial cables and mounting communication devices such as cablesplitters, ground blocks and other broadband devices. The size of thedemarcation enclosure apparatus 10 can vary as needed to accommodatevarious numbers and size of demarcation devices or communicationdevices.

The demarcation enclosure apparatus (referred herein simply as“apparatus”) includes a housing 12 having a mounting base portion 14 anda movable cover 16 attached to the mounting base portion 14 via a hingeassembly 18. The combination of the mounting base portion 14 and themovable cover 16 defines an interior cavity or compartment 20 forholding or accommodating one or more communication devices 22 (as shownbest in FIG. 3). The housing 12 of the apparatus 10 can be fabricatedthrough conventional manufacturing methods including casting, pressing,extruding, and the like, and constructed from suitable rigid materialsincluding plastic polymers such as thermoplastics, thermosets, and thelike. Preferably the rigid material is a rugged, impact resistantthermoplastic resin. The hinge assembly 18 is adapted to allow the cover16 to move to an open position or be removed, if needed, to access theinterior of the apparatus 10 as will be described hereinafter.

The cover 16 includes an overhang 24 extending along the peripherythereof, which in the closed position contacts and overlaps a top edgeportion 26 of the mounting base portion 14 for a tight sealtherebetween. The apparatus 10 further includes a latch assembly 28comprising upper and lower latch portions 30 and 32, respectively, whichcooperate to secure the cover 16 in a locked state. As best shown inFIG. 2, the upper latch portion 30 includes a latch 36, which engages akeeper 38 located on the lower latch portion 32 for releasablesecurement, when the cover 16 is in the closed position. The latchassembly 28 can further include a hole or throughbore 34 for receiving alocking device (e.g., padlock and security/identification tag) tofurther secure the interior compartment 20 from unauthorized access ortampering.

The mounting base portion 14 of the housing 12 includes a floor or base40 (see FIG. 3) and a sidewall 42 extending substantially along theperiphery of the floor 40. The mounting base portion 14 includes one ormore wall mount bosses 44 extending through the floor 40 forfacilitating mounting of the apparatus 10 with a suitable fastener to asupport structure such as a wall, and a pole mount bracket assembly 46attached to the floor 40 for facilitating mounting of the apparatus 10with a suitable fastener to a support structure such as a pole. In thismanner, the apparatus 10 can be mounted in a vertical upright positionor a horizontal flat position depending on the needs of the applicationand the existing support structure.

The apparatus 10 further includes a plurality of cable apertures orports 48 disposed in the mounting base portion 14 of the housing 12 fororganizing wires or cables 56 (see FIG. 5) in a side-by-side orjuxtaposed arrangement. The cable apertures 48 are arranged adjacent toone another in a spaced apart manner, and each include an elastomeric orgrommet-forming web 50 extending thereacross. In the present embodiment,the webs 50 are connected to one another to form a single, unitaryaperture gasket 52, which is securely mounted to the mounting baseportion 14 of the housing 12 as will be described hereinafter. Thegrommet-forming webs 50 each include a plurality of slits 54intersecting at a central point thereof. The webs 50 permit portions ofa wire or cable 56 (see FIG. 5) such as a coaxial cable to be insertedinto the cable apertures 48 from the top of the gasket 52, as will bedescribed hereinafter. In this manner, the inserted cable 56 can beconnected to a communication device 22 (see FIG. 3) mounted within theapparatus 10.

Referring to FIG. 12, the communication device 22 is a drop-end cabletap for illustrative purposes, and includes a casing 66, a plurality ofconnector ports 68, and a pair of mounting brackets or tabs 62. Themounting brackets 62 can include mounting holes 120 for receivingthreaded fasteners such as self-tapping screws, for example, toaccommodate conventional mounting techniques. The communication device22 further includes a ground connection flange 122 having a screw 124and a movable piston 126 for receiving a grounding wire (not shown)within an opening 127 to ground the housing of the communication device22. The screw 124 is moved inward to clamp the wire between the piston126 and the bottom of the opening 127. It is understood that thecommunication device 22 is not limited to this device and configuration,and may include others as known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring to FIG. 3, the apparatus 10 is shown with the cover 16 removedfor a detailed illustration of the interior compartment 20. Thecommunication device 22 includes a housing or casing 66, one or moreconnector ports 68 serving as input(s) and output(s), and a pair ofmounting brackets or tabs 62, in this example. The floor 40 of themounting base portion 14 includes one or more elongated flush mountingslots 58 disposed therein. The flush mounting slots 58 permit theoptional use of conventional mounting techniques via threaded fasteners.The flush mounting slots 58 provide enhance flexibility in accommodatingcommunication devices of various sizes, shapes and configurationsincluding the configurations of the mounting brackets, for example, andoffer greater ease in positioning multiple communication devices withinthe apparatus 10.

The flush mounting slots 58 are configured to receive a threadedfastener 60 such as a self-tapping screw. As shown in FIG. 3, thethreaded fastener 60 extends through each mounting bracket or tab 62 ofthe device 66 to securely mount the communication device 22 to the floor40. The threaded fasteners 60 securely engage the corresponding flushmounting slots 58 and screw securely into the floor 40. To prevent thethreaded fasteners 60 from penetrating through the floor 40, themounting base portion 14 includes solid elevated rail portions 64extending from the bottom exterior side of the mounting base portion 14(as shown best in FIG. 2) immediately below the position of flushmounting slots 58. The fasteners 60 securely screw into the elevatedrail portions 64.

The apparatus 10 includes a pair of cable knockouts 70, each havingconcentric circle knockouts for selectively sizing the required hole, toaccommodate the attachment of different sizes of cables as required, anda gasket well 72 for receiving a gasket (not shown) which contacts theinside surface of the closed cover 16 for ensuring a weather-tight sealof the interior compartment 20. The apparatus 10 further includes one ormore extension wells 74, and one or more opposing pairs of sidewallnotches 78 disposed on the sidewall 42 proximate to the floor 40, eachof which are configured for properly positioning and seating a snapfastener assembly 76 (as shown in FIG. 6) on the floor 40 as will bedescribed hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting base portion 14 of the housing 12includes a plurality of finger projections 80 defining therebetween thecable apertures 48. The aperture gasket 52 (shown partially cutaway) isconfigured for tight seating with the finger projections 80, with eachof the plurality of the grommet-forming webs 50 extending across acorresponding cable aperture 48. The aperture gasket 52 includes a topsurface 82 configured to engage the overhang 24 (see FIG. 1) of thecover 16 in the closed position, thereby maintaining the interiorcompartment 20 in a weather-tight seal to prevent passage of moistureand insects. Alternatively, in applications where a weather-tight sealis not required, the aperture gasket 52 may not be required, whereby acoaxial cable body below a connector at the end of the cable is simplyinstalled into a cable aperture 48 via the open top portion thereof.

The aperture gasket 52 is composed of a resilient, elastomeric materialsuch as, for example, solid foam such as polystyrene, polyurethane andextruded polystyrene foam, natural and synthetic rubber, polyisoprene,butyl rubber, polybutadiene, nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber,ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber,epichlorohydrin rubber, polyacrylic rubber, silicone rubber,fluorosilicone rubber, fluoroelastomers, perfluoroelastomers, polyetherblock amides, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate,thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplasticolefins, polysulfide rubber and the like. Preferably, the aperturegasket 52 is molded in one-piece, and composed of a durable ultravioletresistant foam material.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the aperture gasket 52 includes a topsurface 82, a plurality of spaced apart downwardly extending exteriorflange portions 84, each surrounding substantially along the peripheryof an associated grommet-forming web 50, and interior flange portions 86disposed on the opposing sides of the exterior flange portions 84.Finger receiving slots 88 are located between the exterior and interiorflange portions 84 and 86, respectively, as shown. The finger receivingslots 88 are configured to receive the finger projections 80 of themounting base portion 14 to facilitate secure seating of the aperturegasket 52 thereon. In this manner, the exterior flange portion 84 of theaperture gasket 52 is disposed on the exterior side of the mounting baseportion 14, and the interior flange portion 86 of the aperture gasket 52is disposed on the interior side of the mounting base portion 14 toensure a tight frictional fit therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 5, the grommet-forming web 50 includes a center slit90 extending from the top surface 82 to the slits 54, for permitting aportion of a coaxial cable body below a connector at the end of thecable to be pushed from the top of the gasket 52 through the slit 90into the cable aperture 48 via slits 54. With the cover 16 in the openposition, the center slit 90 allows a cable 56, such as a coaxial cable,to be slipped into position into the cable aperture 48, as described.The center slot 90 further permits a cable 56 to be either removed fromor installed into housing 12 while an associated connector at the end ofthe cable 56 is attached to a port 68 of a device 22. The correspondingweb 50 forms a grommet seal around the cable 56 to provide aweather-tight seal therebetween, thereby preventing passage of moistureand insects into the interior compartment 20. The finger projections 80and the aperture gasket 52 can be modified to vary the diametric size ofthe cable apertures 48 as necessary to accommodate different size wiresor cables 56 and ensure a weather-tight seal. The cable apertures 48 canbe suitably sized and configured to accommodate therein two or morecables 56 in a stacked arrangement.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a snap mount assembly 76, for one embodimentof the invention, is configured for securely mounting a communicationdevice 22 to the mounting base portion 14 without the use of tools orother fastening means such as threaded fasteners. The mount assembly 76includes a mounting deck 92 having top and bottom surfaces 94 and 96,respectively, and an edge portion 98. The mounting deck 92 includes oneor more elongated extensions 100 projecting from the bottom surface 96,and two pairs of opposing tabs 102 projecting away from the edge portion98 of opposing ends thereof on opposing sides (also see FIG. 8). Themounting deck 92 can be fixedly attached to the floor 40 of the mountingbase portion 14. The extensions 100 and the tabs 102 of the mountingdeck 92 insert into the extension wells 74 (see FIG. 3), and into thesidewall notches 78 (see FIG. 3), respectively, for secure retainment ofthe mounting deck 92 to the floor 40. In this manner, the top surface 94of the mounting deck 92 fits flush to the floor 40 of the mounting baseportion 14 (as shown best in FIG. 7).

As shown in FIG. 6, the mounting deck 92 further includes four pairs ofa first mounting rail 104 and an opposing mounting rail 106 disposed onthe top surface 94 thereof. Each pair of first and second mounting rails104 and 106, respectively, is adapted to cooperate with one another tocaptively retain a mounting bracket or tab 62 of a communication device22 in a frictional engagement therebetween (as shown best in FIG. 8). Inthis manner, the mounting arms 104 and 106 functions as a snap fastener.

Optionally, the mounting deck 82 further includes a plurality of raisedmounting bosses 108 defining raised mounting slots 109, disposedproximate to the mounting rails 104 and 106, respectively, on the topsurface 94 thereof. As shown in FIG. 7, the raised mounting slots 109are functionally similar to the flush mounting slots 58 of the mountingbase portion 14 (see FIG. 3), and are configured to allow the optionaluse of conventional mounting techniques such as threaded fasteners.Similarly, the raised mounting slots 109 are configured to receive athreaded fastener 60 such as a self-tapping screw. The threaded fastener60 extends through each mounting bracket or tab 62 to securely mount thecommunication device 22 to the mounting deck 92. Also note thatstrengthening ribs 101 are provided as shown throughout the mountingdeck 92.

Referring to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11, the first and second mounting rails104 and 106, respectively, include inwardly directed protrusions 112 and113, respectively, extending from the distal ends thereof. As discussedpreviously, the first and second mounting rails 104 and 106,respectively, are configured for captively retaining the mountingbracket 62 of the communication device 22 in a self-contained mannerwithout the use of tools or other fastening means such as threadedfasteners.

As shown specifically in FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, the mounting bracket 62includes a base 118 having a forward extending lip 114, and a groove 116disposed on the opposing side thereof. In the present embodiment of theinvention, the first mounting rail 104 is rigid and unbending, and thesecond mounting rail 106 is resilient and more flexible than the firstmounting rail 104. This configuration provides a secure captiveretainment with the communication device 22 mounted, while allowing thecommunication device 22 to be snapped in place or effortlessly removedwhen desired. It is noted that when the mounting deck 92 is orientedvertically, the rigid first mounting rail 104 is positioned spatiallyabove the flexible second mounting rail 106.

To mount a communication device 22 into the apparatus 10, the mountingbracket 62 is positioned with the rail protrusion 112 of the firstmounting bracket 104 seated within the groove 116 and the lip 114contacting the rail protrusion 113 of the second mounting rail 106 asshown in FIG. 9. As pressure is applied from the lip 114 onto the railprotrusion 113 of the second mounting rail 106, the second mounting rail106 bends back and gives way to the mounting bracket 62 until the base118 contacts the top surface 94 of the mounting deck 92. The secondmounting rail 106 snaps back to the rest position with the railprotrusions 112 and 113 of the first and second mounting rails 104 and106, respectively, captively retaining the mounting bracket 62therebetween, and the rail protrusion 113 of rail 106 overlying the lip114 of the bracket 62 (see FIG. 10).

To dismount the communication device 22 from the apparatus 10, the lip114 of the mounting bracket 62 is pulled away from the mounting deck 92.This action causes the second mounting rail 106 to bend back and giveway until the lip 114 clears the second mounting rail 106. Once cleared,the communication device 22 can be removed from the apparatus 10.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the mounting deck 92 can further includeflush mounting slots 110 between the first and second mounting rails 104and 106, respectively, for receiving a threaded fastener 60 tooptionally rigidly secure the mounting bracket 62 captively retainedbetween the first and second mounting rails 104 and 106, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, a demarcation enclosure apparatus 128 isshown for another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 128is similar to the previous embodiment except for the absence of amounting deck 92. The apparatus 128 includes a mounting base portion 130having a floor 132, first and second mounting rails 134 and 136,respectively, disposed on the floor 132, a raised mounting boss 138located proximate to the mounting rails 134, and a plurality of flushmounting slots 140. The mounting rails 134 and 136, respectively, theraised mounting slots of the mounting boss 138 and the flush mountingslots 140 operate in the same manner as described above for similarfeatures in the previous embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, thecommunication device 22 is mounted on the raised mounting boss 138 witha threaded fastener 60 secured to the mounting bracket 62.

Although various embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, they are not meant to be limiting. Those of skill in the artmay recognize various modifications to these embodiments, whichmodifications are meant to be covered by the spirit and scope of theappended claims. For example, the floor 40 with mounting slots 58,and/or mounting deck 92 can be configured to be rigidly mounted on awall or a sheet of material. As a result, the various embodiments of theinvention can be utilized without requiring an enclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for mounting each one of a plurality ofelectrical devices in a selected fixed location, respectively, saiddevices requiring electrical cables to be attached thereto, saidapparatus comprising: a housing having an interior bottom portionproviding a planar mounting base for securing said electrical devicesthereon; said plurality of devices each including at least one mountingtab for securing said devices onto said mounting base; said mountingbase including therein a plurality of spaced apart elongated mountingslots extending between opposing sidewall of said housing, for receivingscrews to secure the mounting tabs of said plurality of devices to saidmounting base.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality ofspaced apart mounting slots each are elongated and extend between andproximate opposing sidewalls of said housing.
 3. The apparatus of claim1, further including: a sidewall extending along a periphery of thebottom portion, a portion of the sidewall including a plurality ofspaced apart apertures each having an open top portion, and each beingconfigured for permitting a portion of an electrical cable to be droppedinto and retained within an associated aperture.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 2, further including: a grommet-forming web extending across aplurality of cable apertures, said grommet-forming web being configuredfor permitting installation of a portion of a cable into and through aselected one of said plurality of spaced apart apertures, and providinga weather-tight seal therebetween.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, furtherincluding: said grommet-forming web including a plurality of spacedapart centrally located vertically oriented slits disposed therethroughfrom a top portion to an interior portion, for permitting a cableportion to be pushed from a top portion of the grommet-forming webthrough an associated vertical slit therein into an associated cableaperture.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of spacedapart mounting slots are parallel to one another.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein said plurality of spaced apart mounting slots arejuxtaposed to one another.
 8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein saidplurality of spaced apart apertures are each U-shaped.
 9. The apparatusof claim 4, wherein said grommet-forming web consists of a unitary pieceof material.
 10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said grommet-formingweb consists of a unitary piece of elastomeric material.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 5, wherein said grommet-forming web further includesa horizontal slit proximate a bottom portion of each one of saidplurality of vertically oriented slits for seating an associated cableportion therebetween within an associated aperture.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein said grommet-forming web further includes an X-shapedslit portion proximate a bottom portion of each one of said plurality ofvertically oriented slits for seating an associated cable portiontherebetween within an associated aperture.